Christian Whitehead’s fascination with the SEGA Saturn should be known by this point, given Sonic Mania’s use of low poly 3D models and the Saturn’s color schemes and aesthetics. Penny’s Big Breakaway feels like a step further in that department, being the 3D Saturn-esque platformer that had been worked on post-Sonic Mania. Its vibrant, lower poly aesthetic really makes so much of the platforming it demands charming. It’s genuinely so well stylized and fun. I still have no idea what the hell kind of animal Penny is based on, though. A soundtrack by Tee Lopes felt like an inevitability, but he and Sean Biallo create a jazzy and fun soundscape that further capitalizes on that Saturn aesthetic. Movement and platforming are fluid and rewarding beyond belief, and absolutely are capitalized on by pretty ruthless score caps for doing well. Like any good Sonic ranking system, I think this creates a score and speedrun paradise of sorts. And while you can use jank to your advantage, there’s some deaths and run failures that I feel weren’t my fault. Far from irreparably buggy, but you will get stuck in a wall a few times, and that sucks. Don’t let that discourage you though. This is a great time and a beyond charming experience. Lots of childlike wonder and whimsy here, and I really couldn’t put it down. I saw one critic call the bosses too hard, and I personally couldn’t disagree more; the bosses feel far too easy, if anything. Also, please don’t get this for the Switch; you do not want 30 FPS for this game.